Michael O'Brien's Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Feb. 22, 2026
This year’s city title game had a much different feel. It was on a Friday night, there was no television broadcast, the mayor did not attend, and none of the players had a college scholarship.
While the talent level and overall profile of Public League basketball is down, the honesty level is up. This may have been the first city title game in a decade or more in which all of the players actually lived in Chicago.
Chicago Public Schools has recently been cracking down on residency violations and unlike in the past, there was no situation where everyone in the building was fully aware that a player lived in Oak Park or the South Suburbs.
Curie coach Mike Oliver wasn’t taking the bait when I asked him about that issue after the game. But he had plenty to say about the makeup of his team.
“Most Curie kids travel 30 or 40 minutes away from home, and they are all Chicago kids,” Oliver said. “Justin Oliver’s dad played for me. Gabriel Taylor’s dad played for me. Kendall Holliday’s uncle played for me.”
Curie never appeared to be one of the major offenders when it came to using suburban stars. Oliver’s teams have regularly been a family affair, made up of players with connections to his long-time successful program.
The Condors were heavy favorites to win the city, and they delivered. The emergence of 6-8 senior Keith Collins as a rim protector, rebounder and scorer has given Curie’s state title chances a major shot in the arm. With Collins and Holliday, the Condors have two impact players to battle in the post against the bigs at DePaul Prep and Benet and would have a size advantage against Warren.
Perfection achieved
Kaneland beat Ottawa and LaSalle-Peru this week to finish up the regular season undefeated at 30-0. The Knights haven’t played a particularly challenging schedule; that’s why they are still ranked No. 17.
But strength of schedule is out the window now. Kaneland is talented enough to win Class 3A. Senior Marshawn Cocroft is an experienced, dynamic guard that leads a group which includes 6-9 junior Jeffrey Hassan and senior guards Jalen Carter and Connor Kimme.
Super 25 updates
Lyons and Rich make Super 25 season debuts this week. It’s been an up and down season for the Lions, but they are playing their best basketball of the season now, winning 11 consecutive games as the playoffs arrive.
Rich received a huge boost in February when star guard Jamson Coulter returned to the team.
The senior helped lead the Raptors to the state finals last season but has been out with health issues all season. Rich was competitive without Coulter, but with him back they are a real contender in the Class 4A Joliet West sectional.
York returns to the Super 25 this week, and Mount Carmel, Hillcrest and Hyde Park drop out.
Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Feb. 22, 2026
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Benet (30-1) 1
Title defense begins
2. DePaul Prep (27-3) 2
Won at Warren
3. Curie (26-1) 3
City champs
4. Kankakee (26-1) 4
Dreaming of Champaign
5. Neuqua Valley (30-1) 6
Challenging regional
6. Warren (28-3) 5
Braylon Walker stepping up
7. Homewood-Flossmoor (26-3) 7
Handled Andrew
8. Bolingbrook (22-7) 8
Tough regional
9. Loyola (25-6) 9
Hosts the sectional
10. St. Patrick (25-4) 10
Up in Class 4A this year
11. Marist (26-5) 11
Lost to Benet
12. New Trier (24-7) 12
Expectations raised
13. Evanston (24-6) 13
Vito Rocca is back
14. Fremd (25-2) 14
MSL champs
15. St. Ignatius (27-4)
Hosting the regional
16. Palatine (27-4) 16
Champaign contender
17. Kaneland (30-0) 18
Perfect regular season
18. Glenbard East (27-3) 19
Favorites at Bartlett
19. Waukegan (22-7) 20
Finishing strong
20. Lincoln Park (20-8) 21
Impressive city run
21. Lyons (22-6) NR
Won 11 in a row
22. York (27-4) NR
Large and strong
23. Kenwood (18-8) 23
Watch Cadillac Colby Irvin
24. Young (21-7) 24
A threat at Mount Carmel
25. Rich (17-12) NR
Jamson Coulter is back